Soil

How could I alleviate the problem of salinity in my field?

Provision of lateral and main drainage channels of 60 cm deep and 45 cm wide and leaching of salts could reclaim the soils. Application of farm yard manure at 5 t ha-1 at 10 - 15 days before transplanting in the case of paddy crop and before sowing in the case of garden land crops can alleviate the problems of salinity.

I am an active farmer who practice all the cultivation operations properly, but even then I am unable to get good yield due to the problem of sodicity, Kindly suggest some reclamation measures?

To reclaim the sodic soils, plough the soil at optimum soil moisture regime, apply gypsum at 50% gypsum requirement uniformly, impound water, provide drainage for leaching out the soluble salts and apply green manure at 5 t ha-1 10 to 15 days before transplanting in the case of paddy crop.

How can I reclaim acid soils?

Application of lime by broadcast and incorporation is recommended. The alternate amendments like dolomite, basic slag, flue dust, wood ash, pulp mill lime may also be used on lime equivalent basis.

I am an active paddy grower, my field physical condition turned to fluffy, and hence I am unable to carry out field operations properly. Kindly suggest an alleviation measure?

Due to monocropping of paddy your field would have turned to fluffy condition. For such soils, passing of 400 kg stone roller or oil drum with stones inside eight times at proper moisture level (moisture level at friable condition of soil which is approximately 13 per cent) once in three years.

Due to high infiltration I have to irrigate my field frequently. Kindly suggest a reclamation measure to increase the water holding capacity?

Hope your soil contains more sand than the clay content, hence sandy soil results in high percolation rates and nutrient losses. Compacting the soil with 400 kg stone roller or oil drum with stones inside eight times at proper moisture level (moisture level at friable condition of soil which is approximately 13 per cent) once in three years could reduce the percolation losses. Addition of tank silt for coastal sandy soils is recommended for enhancing their productivity.

Kindly suggest a reclamation measure for sandy soils?

Compacting the soil with 400 kg stone roller or oil drum with stones inside eight times at proper moisture level (moisture level at friable condition of soil which is approximately 13 per cent) once in three years could reduce the percolation losses. Addition of tank silt for coastal sandy soils is recommended for enhancing their productivity.

Due to hard pan soil, I am unable to cultivate deep rooted crop and even the shallow rooted crop gets stunted resulting in poor yield. How can I reclamation hard pan soil?

These soils can be reclaimed by chiselling the soils with chisel plough at 0.5 m interval first in one direction and then in the direction perpendicular to the previous one, once in three years. Application of FYM or composted coir pith at 12.5 t ha-1could bring additional yields of about 30 per cent over control.

Due to surface crusting there is poor emergence of seedlings. Kindly suggest a measure to alleviate surface crusting?

The clay pan prevent the emerging seedlings and arrest the free exchange of gases between the soil and atmosphere. The surface crust can be easily broken by harrowing or cultivator ploughing and its formation can be prevented by improving the aggregate stability by the application of lime or gypsum at 2 t ha-1 and FYM at 12.5 t ha-1. Retaining crop residues on the surface as a protective cover.

Suggest a suitable crop for saline soil?

Paddy, Ragi, Sunflower, Sorghum, Green manure.

My field is highly calcareous, name few crops suitable for calcareous soil?

Paddy, Sorghum, Sugar cane and Castor.

© All Rights Reserved. TNAU-2016.